Yet the fund model will not die. Last week, Gibbons pushed forward with suing the federal government over the new healthcare reform law by sidestepping the state's unwilling Democratic attorney general and retaining private counsel.

Considering the poor performance of the teachers’ fund, we have a suggestion for this new endeavor: People want something in return for their cash. Instead of shaking an empty coffee can, metaphorically speaking, why not a “Battle Born” bake sale?